THE COLD WAR (1945-1955)

Chapter 17 THE COLD WAR(1945-1955) Section 1: The World After War Section 2: The Roots of the Cold War Section 3: The Truman Years Section 4: The Korean War Section 5: Cold War Fears

Answer in your notebook: Should the United States spend billions of dollars to rebuild the economies of war-torn countries? (Even if the country was our enemy during the war?)

Section 2:The Roots of the Cold War OBJECTIVES • What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan, and what was the result of the plan for Europe? • What were the major events of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1946-1951? • What U.S. foreign policy changes arose from the threat of communism in the postwar world?

Section 2:The Roots of the Cold War The Marshall Plan • Purpose • to create postwar economic recovery and to rebuild the nations of Europe • to prevent communism from spreading to Western European nations • Between l948 and 1951 Congress approved $13 billion for Marshall Plan aid.

Section 2:The Roots of the Cold War Major Events of the Cold War Between the U.S. and the Soviet Union • June 28, 1948, the Soviets blocked all rail and highway traffic between western Germany and Berlin in an attempted takeover. • The same month the U.S. and British began the Berlin Airlift to supply the people with food and supplies. • In May 1949 the Soviets lifted the blockade and Germany was divided into two nations.

Section 2:The Roots of the Cold War Changes in U.S. Foreign Policy Due to the Threat of Communism • U.S. adopted a new foreign policy, known as containment, to stop the spread of communism. • April 1949 the U.S. and nine Western European nations formed the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization (NATO) and pledged to defend one another. Canada and Iceland joined later.

THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION • UN human rights efforts were captured in three major statements: • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). The Declaration established a series of universal human rights that were to be binding on all nations.

UN Human Rights • Convention against Genocide (1948). This convention, passed unanimously by the General Assembly, was aimed at preventing the atrocities like those carried out by the Nazis in World War II. • Geneva Conventions (1949). The purpose of these conventions was to “civilize” war, especially with respect to the treatment of prisoners and enemy combatants.

State control was enforced in two ways Secret Police The secret police arrested people who spoke out against the government or were otherwise considered a threat. Spies Soviet spies infiltrated western countries to learn their secrets as well as learn if anyone from their communist countries had switched sides.

This was not just in the U.S.S.R • While there are some differences between communist countries, for the most part they were and still are very restrictive about Human Rights and stick to the main economic principles of communism. While there are some differences between communist countries, for the most part they were and still are very restrictive about Human Rights and stick to the main economic principles of communism.

Cold War Alignments: 1953

Cold War Alignments: 1980

Berlin Wall: 1961 In a masterfully-planned operation, spanning just 24 hours, the streets of Berlin were torn up, barricades of paving stones were erected, tanks were gathered at crucial places and subways and local railway services were interrupted, so that within a day the West of Berlin was completely sealed off from the East. As of that same day inhabitants of East Berlin and East Germany were no longer allowed to enter the West of the city (including the 60,000 who had been commuters).

Berlin Wall built to stop East Germans from fleeing to the west!

The wall was built to split East and West Berlin in 1961 and stood until 1989. About 100-200 people were killed trying to cross over, under, or through this wall to join their families and friends on the other side. It eventually extended for over 100 miles.

Berlin Wall in the 1980’s

Political Cartoons The Cold War

What makes a good political cartoon? • A recognizable issue • Symbols • Exaggeration • Humor & Irony • Captions • Point of View • Caricatures (funny portraits)

Analyze this political cartoon:

Analyze:

Section 2:The Roots of the Cold War (continued) Changes in U.S. Foreign Policy Due to the Threat of Communism • U.S. quadrupled its defense spending and Truman approved the development of more powerful nuclear weapons. • U.S. began to move away from isolationism and strengthen its alliances.

Section 3:The Truman Years OBJECTIVES • What steps did the U.S. government take to help returning veterans? • What problems did the U.S. economy face in the postwar period? • What problems did Truman face in the 1948 presidential election, and why did he win?

Section 3:The Truman Years Helping Returning Veterans • Most of the 15 million returning veterans needed jobs and the government encouraged women to stop working. • The GI Bill of Rights (1944) offered veterans generous benefits such as affordable home and business loans. • The same law provided financial aid for millions of vets to attend colleges and technical schools.

Section 3:The Truman Years Problems of the U.S. Economy in the Postwar Years • In 1946 the inflation rate was more than 18 percent. • In April 1946 United Mine Workers went on strike and Truman placed them under government control when a settlement could not be reached. • In 1947 Ohio senator Robert Taft led the drive to pass the Taft-Hartley Act, which made closed shops illegal.

Section 3:The Truman Years Truman’s Problems in the 1948 Election • Labor unrest caused many Americans to question Truman’s ability as president. • Republicans had gained control of Congress for the first time in 18 years. • Some Democrats joined a “dump Truman” movement and others formed the new Dixiecrat party and a new Progressive Party thus splitting their votes.

Section 3:The Truman Years Truman’s Victory in the 1948 Election • Truman won union support by vetoing the Taft-Hartley Act. • He won the African American vote with his support for civil rights. • Many Progressives switched to Truman when it looked as if the Republicans would win. • The recovering economy was also important.

Truman Decides Not to Run for Re-election Answer the following questions as you watch the videos…

1. Who would their audience be? Would it be a general audience, or would they want to target a specific group? 2. What would they want viewers to think about the candidate? 3. What arguments would they want to make? How would they support those arguments? 4. How would they want viewers to feel about the candidate? 5. How would they want viewers to think and feel about the candidate’s opponent?

Section 4:The Korean War OBJECTIVES • Why did the relationship between the United States and China grow worse? • What were the major events of the Korean War? • How did the Korean War affect U.S. politics?

Section 4:The Korean War Relations Between the U.S. and China Grow Worse • Suspicious of any communist government, the U.S. backed the Nationalists during the Chinese civil war. • Once Mao Zedong, the communist leader took power, the U.S. refused to recognize his government and kept diplomatic relations with the Nationalists in Taiwan.

Section 4:The Korean War (continued) Relations Between the U.S. and China Grow Worse • Many Americans feared that the People’s Republic of China would join the Soviet Union to threaten the free world. • Relations grew worse when the Chinese sent aid to N. Korea during the Korean War.

Section 4:The Korean War Major Events of the Korean War • Following WWII, Korea had been temporarily divided between the U.S. and Soviet Union. • A communist, Soviet backed government took power in North Korea and in June 1950 invaded South Korea. • In June 27, 1950, the UN Security Council called on UN members to support South Korea and General Douglas MacArthur becomes commander of UN troops.

Section 4:The Korean War (continued) Major Events of the Korean War • In Early 1951, UN forces drove the North Koreans back across the 38th parallel and the fighting came to a standstill. • On July 27, 1953, the two sides signed a cease-fire that effectively ended the war.

Section 4:The Korean War The Korean War and American Politics • The Korean War became a major issue in the presidential election of 1952. • Truman decided not to seek re-election knowing many voters blamed him for the Korean War. • The Democrats nominated Adlai E. Stevenson.

Section 4:The Korean War (continued) The Korean War and American Politics • The Republicans nominated General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a respected war hero who had helped end the Korean War and took a firm stand against the spread of communism. • Eisenhower’s policies won him the office of the presidency.

Tensions • During the 1940’s, political tensions were building in Korea • Japan had ruled Korea from 1910-1945, but had been driven out by the United States and the Soviet Union. • 1945-the Allies had divided Korea into two zones, the Soviets occupied the northern zone and U.S. troops occupied the southern zone.

North and South Korea https://www.cia.gov/

Divided Korea • North Korea was led by communist leader Kim Il Sung • South Korea was led by Syngman Rhee and called itself the Republic of Korea Syngman Rhee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngman_Rhee Kim Il Sung http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Il-sung

U.S. Involvement • South Korea was unstable economically • The United States feared that South Korea would fall to communism • U.S. government helped to build up the South Korean military • Both the U.S. and the Soviets removed their troops from Korea in 1949.

Fighting Begins • North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. • The UN became involved and asked for an immediate cease fire • The Soviets were boycotting the U.N. due to the denial of admittance of China to the world governing body

THE COLD WAR (1945-1955)